Page 121 of Playing for Keeps
“Ignore me. I’m being dramatic. Let’s just go have fun.”
Before I can respond, my hand slips from her thigh, and she climbs out of the car. I frown, then quickly follow, circling around to where she’s standing.
I reach for her, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her against my chest. I tilt her chin until her eyes meet mine.
“Hey… you’re not being dramatic. And you’re definitely not alone in this. I hate having to leave you too, Ivy. It’s okay to feel it. It just means what we have is special.”
Her gaze drops from mine, and I feel her start to pull away, but I don’t let her.
“Ivy,” I say gently.
She swallows hard, her voice betraying her uncertainty.
“I’m sorry… I just, God, I don’t want to be that girl who clings too much or needs too much. This is all new to me, Wyatt. I’ve never had something like this before, and I don’t know the rules, but the thought of you leaving tomorrow already feels heavier than I expected. Like I’m losing something I only just got.”
Her words tumble out in a rush as if she’s been holding on to them, afraid to let them go. And hidden beneath them, I hear what she’s really afraid of. Being too much for me. Her words hit me hard, and I can see from the emotion in her eyes that she’s barely holding it together.
I cup her face, my thumbs stroking her cheeks.
“You’re not too much. None of this is too much. You’re just being honest, and I love that about you. I don’t want you to hold back or second-guess yourself with me, okay? You don’t have to figure it out alone. We’ll figure it out together.”
She nods slowly, and I lower my head, kissing her.
“I’ve never had something like this either,” I admit against her lips. “But I know I want it with you.”
She exhales slowly and wraps her arms around my waist. I hold her close like I never want to let go, because I don’t.
“I’m falling in love with you, Ivy.”
Her breath catches, her eyes flicking up to mine, wide and uncertain, like she’s not sure she heard me right.
“I mean it,” I whisper. “Every day I spend with you, it gets harder to imagine a life that doesn’t have you in it.”
A smile erupts on her face, and she drops her head onto my chest. “God, Wyatt. I was so scared I was feeling more than I should… that I was falling too fast.”
She lifts her head, her fingers gripping my shirt like she needs to make sure I’m real.
“I’m falling in love with you too,” she whispers. “I think I’ve already fallen.”
Relief crashes through me like a wave, and I tighten my hold on her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
“I never saw you coming, Ivy. You’re everything I’ve always wanted, even if I didn’t believe I’d ever find it.”
We don’t say anything for a long moment, standing wrapped up in each other at the hood of the car, the rest of the world on pause.
Eventually, Ivy leans back slightly, her eyes meeting mine. “We should probably go,” she says, her fingers brushing against my jaw.
She smiles, and this time, there’s no doubting that it reaches her eyes.
“Yeah,” I say, pressing one last kiss to her forehead. “Let’s go.”
Grabbing the bags from the trunk, we walk hand in hand toward the trail that leads to the lake. Laughter and conversation carry through the air, and it sounds like everyone else is already here.
As we walk into the clearing, I spot Nash and Paisley by the lake, completely wrapped up in each other like the honeymoon never ended. Cade’s manning the grill, flipping burgers, while Seb and Ben linger nearby with beers in their hands. A little farther off, Ash, Sophie, and Taylor are stretched out on a blanket, all of them doting on Hunter, who’s clearly loving the attention.
“Hey, you made it,” Ash says, jumping up when she spots us. Her eyes narrow as she gets closer. “Why do you look like you’ve been crying?” she asks Ivy.
Ivy squeezes my hand. “Because I’m dramatic,” she says lightly, looking up at me and smiling. I smile back and drop a kiss on her nose.
